Yavapai County voters express frustration in Tuesday’s election

PRESCOTT VALLEY – Many local voters were not happy with their choices in the Tuesday, March 22, Presidential Preference Election.

Along with the standard complaints about politicians not keeping promises, there were jabs at GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

Several voters announced their feelings by saying, “anybody but Trump.”

One man explained why he couldn’t bring himself to vote for the New York businessman. “Trump, in my opinion, is dangerous. I like what he stands for, but I believe if he got in, he’d be a tyrant,” said “Fred,” a Prescott Valley voter.

Those who voted for Trump lauded his tough-talking style and plans to build a wall at the border to stop illegal immigration.

Despite Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s distant finish Tuesday night, he had some committed supporters, people who know what he needs to get the nomination.

“(Kasich) is the most qualified for the job,” Prescott voter “Jean” said. “I’m praying for a contested convention.”

And Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont, turned out a significant number of the Democratic Party faithful and likely will continue to worry former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

“I believe our taxes should go for social programs, not (an) overabundance on defense. We spend more than, like, the next 10 countries, combined, on defense,” said David Villa, after voting for Sanders. “It’s just a big industrial complex and not necessary.”

But, by far, the most common sentiment expressed by voters from both parties was that they had to, as the saying goes, hold their nose and make a choice.

“I think this election has a totally different feel to it,” voter Lindsay Lowry said. “I don’t think people are voting for who they want,” they’re voting against “the ones they don’t want.”

“I’m not for anyone. I don’t like any of them,” her Republican husband, Ryan, said.